We have had a number of past posts about the possible outbreak of a flu virus that could reach catastrophic proportions. The H5N1 avian virus has begun to spread out of Asia into Russia. Migratory birds have been found infected with the deadly virus responsible for dozens of human deaths in Asia in recent months.

Scientists say the world is overdue an outbreak of flu that could potentially kill millions. Recent reports that a vaccine has been found to counter an epidemic is welcome news but supplies have not been produced on a scale that could counter the wide spread of the virus.

This story out of Canada shows how such a worldwide epidemic could trigger an economic collapse on the scale of the Great Depression of the 1930's.